My Rival's Heart

5

Credits to Gemenia_Cryst for helping me write.

"You again." Chester began as he looked at him.

"Chester, what are you doing?" I said, exhaustedly. I was too tired for this shit.

He ignored me and kept glaring at Ajax, daring him to try and answer back to him.

"Chester." Ajax acknowledge him, his voice was calm and still.

"Vinessa, Elodie." Elodie said, giggling as she joined in on the name calling.

Chester ignored them and took my arm and dragged me out of there, the same way he dragged me out of that party.

But then, Ajax quicky grab my other arm to stop.

Chester looked at him for a moment and pulled me back, then Ajax pulled me as well.

Ajax's sudden intervention surprised everyone.

He held onto my other arm firmly but not aggressively, a clear sign that he wasn't looking for a fight. "Chester, let's not make a scene here," He said in that calm, measured tone.

"This guy needs to learn some respect, huh?" Chester said, still seething with anger, shot back.

Elodie chimed in, trying to defuse the tension, "Come on, guys, can't we just get along?"

I sighed, feeling caught in the middle of this unexpected confrontation. "Chester, please, just let it go," I implored, hoping he'd release his grip on my arm.

Ajax's presence seemed to have a calming effect, as Chester reluctantly let go of me. "Fine," he grumbled, shooting one last icy glare at Ajax before storming off.

Ajax finally released my arm and turned to me with a concerned expression. "Are you okay, Vinessa?"

I nodded, still a bit shaken by the encounter. "Yeah, thanks, Ajax. I appreciate your help."

Elodie giggled again, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, looks like you've got your very own protector now, Vinessa."

Before I could say anything else, we all heard some shrieking from the other side of the hallway.

"CHESTER!" It was Mia and she looked livid.

When Chester saw her, he immediately went a few steps back and stood behind me.

"You son of a bitch! You left me?!" Mia yelled at Chester. For some reason, she did have a point. Why did he leave her? This was turning comical, like a soap opera.

"If you didn't want me to leave then don't make out with Emmett!" He retaliated, still standing behind me.

Mia quickly took notice of me and narrowed her eyes as she glared at me. The complete opposite for her sweet smile from last night.

"What are you doing hanging around with her?!" Mia shouted, ignoring Chester's response.

"I'm sorry, what?" I responded, sounding confused.

"Chester, come on. Let's go." Mia said, grabbing his hands and walked away from us.

For reasons unknown, Chester allowed her to pull him away from us but he did look back and gave me a look that said, 'We will talk later'.

We all stayed in utter silence for a while, the only noise you could hear was from the other students who walked through the halls like they do everyday in the morning like clockwork.

Ajax was the first one to speak up, "What was that all about?".

"No idea." I said, shaking my head.

"Oh yeah, Mia made out with Emmett and then he left her at the party and she saw him take a girl home with him, so..." Elodie explained, all the information she spilled us sounded like it was something she experienced every day when gossiping with her other friends.

"Definitely." I said in agreement.

The bell rang and it was time for first period classes.

My first period class was Literature, my favorite subject.

I took my seat and waited with a few others for the rest, including my teacher, to arrive.

Chester was the last to arrive and he went to sat next to me, not making eye contact.

As the teacher walked into the classroom, the chatter among students gradually faded away. Mr. Henderson, known for his strict but fair demeanor, carried a stack of papers in his hand. His arrival marked the beginning of another day of lessons and assignments.

"Good morning, class," He greeted in his usual no-nonsense tone. "I hope you're all ready for today's lesson."

The classroom settled into an attentive silence as Mr. Henderson began to distribute the day's assignment. It was a moment of calm before the storm of learning, a routine that would soon occupy our focus for the rest of the class period.

As Mr. Henderson entered the classroom, he carried a well-worn copy of a classic novel in his hand. The students' hushed conversations dwindled as they noticed the book, indicating that today's lesson would revolve around a literary discussion.

"Good morning, class," Mr. Henderson greeted, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Today, we embark on a journey through the pages of one of the most profound works of literature in history."

He introduced the class to the intricacies of the novel, delving into its themes, characters, and symbolism. His words painted vivid images of the story's world, captivating the students' imaginations.

As the discussion unfolded, students eagerly participated, sharing their interpretations and insights into the book's profound meaning. It was a reminder of the power of literature to spark intellectual curiosity and ignite passionate discussions within the classroom.

Chester had a hard time keeping up. I wasn't surprised, Literature or overall in general, reading wasn't his best suit.

He has dyslexia which means he can't read properly yet he speaks so perfectly but despite that, he is a genius in mathematics.

It's amazing how his brain can calculate the most complex of numbers and equations yet the alphabet is something it can't process properly.

As Mr. Henderson concluded the literary discussion, he announced an upcoming project that would require students to work in groups. "To further explore the themes of this novel," he explained, "I've decided that we'll have a two person project. Each pair will analyze a different aspect of the story and present their findings to the class."

He began dividing the class into pairs, taking care to ensure a mix of students with diverse skills and strengths. When it came to Chester, Mr. Henderson paired him with me.

I had to hold back a groan of frustration when I found out I had to be paired up with him for nothing more than a simple presentation.

Since Chester still refused to talk to me, I had finally decided to just text him when I got home from school and see how to proceed from there.

The rest of the classes went pretty smoothly and surprisingly so did Math.

I was about to head home when Chester came up to me and asked to talk to me in private.

Of course, I said yes.